Phase One - Construction Planning

Construction planning has begun. Drilling of a community well was completed in March of 2006, and will compliment the artesian spring drinking water supply. 

The guiding principle in developing community will be that of environmentally sensitive building practices, but of equal importance, we want to protect the tranquility that exists here. We share a great reverence for the Pend Oreille River, and demonstrate that by leaving a mile of shoreline undisturbed, with native vegetation to screen, filter run-off, and to provide riparian habitat. 

                      Design Marc Willett                 Rendering courtesy of Ken Acheson

We have chosen a five acre site, well off the river and there we will cluster five small straw bale residences, a shop, and one larger common building.

All dwellings will be constructed by residents of our Intentional Community.

In time, a woodworking shop will be housed in the 1912 barn, and we hope to have a greenhouse to advance the growing season. 

Growth Management

Beyond the full-time resident housing, as younger interns within community are promoted to full residency, our intention is to slowly grow community, so that we might assess the actual impact on the site, on quality of life for our residents, and on our ability to enhance the larger community.

There will be no more than five standardized personal dwellings, and the common use buildings constructed here, that tally capped by binding language within a conservation easement - recorded with the deed, and governed by a community land trust.

It is our intention to work and live together in community, to demonstrate stewardship of the environment through sustainable agricultural and forestry practices, and to support one another as personal health challenges arise.  

Site Management

By locating all passive solar dwellings well off the riverfront, and integrating the housing cluster gently into the landscape; by minimizing our own footprint on the land, thus impacting under five acres of 719, we will be intentionally considering our impact on the environment. All of those who will live onsite, will be partners in stewardship of the agricultural parcel, and will help as well with grooming of trails on the forestland.

Gracious Help

Architect Bruce Millard, President of the NW Chapter of the Eco-Building Guild, has been kind enough to offer his assistance with the early planning process.     

Michael Thomas of The Ironstraw Group of Oregon www.ironstraw.org

has offered us direction, and a reduced rate for a 2005 strawbale building workshop he conducted in SE Washington. 

Architect Wayne Bingham of Salt Lake City has also been kind enough to offer guidance and encouragement over the past two years. His beautiful designs have inspired the design of our own dwellings.

James A. Sewell & Associates of Newport Washington, and Sandpoint Idaho have been more generous than we would have dared hope. The structural engineering of the volunteer's personal dwellings was completed in late May '08 and and Sewell's excellent work on the water & wastewater system made for smooth sailing with area agencies. Thanks to Eric Eldenberg for spiriting our effort here.

First Cabin

Groundbreaking on the first two resident structures was June of 2008, with foundation pours in July and August. A strawbale building workshop will be held by the Spring of 2009. Additional dwellings will be built over the next four years during several additional straw bale building workshops.

Construction of the larger common buildings, agricultural building, the woodworking shop, solar kiln, and larger greenhouse will ensue once an onsite resident crew has been assembled. Construction will be ongoing for six or more years.